Mechanism of action and potential application of complex herbal medicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract functional diseases

Mechanism of action and potential application of complex herbal medicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract functional diseases

O.N. Minushkin, A.A. Frolova, L.V. Maslovskiy 

Central State Medical Academy, Moscow 

Functional disorders are one of the leading causes of gastrointestinal tract (GI) diseases. Their pathogenesis is complex and not fully understood. The key pathogenic factors include abnormalities in GI motility and intestinal microbiota, mucous immunity disorders, various processes in the central nervous system, visceral hypersensitivity, and mild inflammation.

Treatment of functional diseases is a complex task because simultaneous exposure to several pathogenic factors results in polypharmacy. Multitarget (multipurpose) therapy affects both different branches of the pathogenesis of one functional gastrointestinal disorder and several functional disorders simultaneously, thereby increasing the efficiency and minimizing treatment adverse effects. These benefits are particularly relevant when long-term therapy is required. The dietary herbal supplement Tamiz includes five components (Ferula asafoetida, Ajowan aromatics, Gardenia gummifera, ginger, black pepper) and provides multiple therapeutic effects (antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, prokinetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial), regulates the production of bile acids and digestive enzymes, and reduces GI transit time. The combination of these effects suggests that this drug may be useful in the treatment of functional GI disorders.

Keywords: multitarget therapy, functional gastrointestinal diseases, pathogenesis, treatment, herbal medicine.

For citation: Minushkin O.N., Frolova A.A., Maslovskiy L.V. Mechanism of action and potential application of complex herbal medicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract functional diseases. RMJ. 2023;1:1–6.